WAR IN GAZA

A Palestinian youth leans on a wall bearing a sketch of an Israeli flag and reading "Gaza here we are", allegedly left behind by Israeli soldiers, at a house in the Zeitun district of Gaza City on January 23, 2009. A Hamas delegation from Gaza crossed into Egypt for talks to shore up the ceasefire with Israel which ended a 22-day assault on the coastal strip, a border official said. Israel and Hamas have observed their own ceasefires since January 18 when Israel ended Operation Cast Lead leaving a trail of devastation and 1,330 Palestinians dead, according to doctors. Egypt is trying to secure a durable ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the reopening of crossings.